Functional Medicine is defined as the practice of medicine that reaffirms the importance of the relationship between practitioner and patient. It focuses on the whole person, is informed by evidence, and makes use of all appropriate therapeutic approaches, healthcare professionals and disciplines to achieve optimal health and healing.

Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine definition of Integrative Medicine.

What Does This Mean For You?

Functional Medicine determines how and why illness occurs and restores health by addressing the root causes of disease for each individual. Instead of treating symptoms, we will work together to address the core of the issue.

Together, we will focus on identifying health as a positive vitality-not merely the absence of disease.

• You get to have a voice
• More time with Health Professional
• Personalized treatment plan

This is not a one-way relationship. You are involved. As a provider, I literally can’t do this without you!

Why do we need Functional Medicine?

The prevalence of complex, chronic diseases is escalating globally. From heart disease and diabetes to irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, mental illness, rheumatoid arthritis, and other autoimmune disorders.​

Chronic diseases are diet- and lifestyle-related diseases and require dietary and lifestyle solutions. A major strength of Functional Nutrition is its focus on the molecular mechanisms that underlie disease. This provides the basis for targeted, innovative solutions that can restore health.​

The current healthcare system fails to take into account the unique genetic makeup of each individual or the ability of food, toxins, and other environmental factors to influence gene expression.

The interaction between genes and environmental factors is a critical component in the development of chronic disease and plays a central role in the Functional Nutrition approach.

Most nutrition professionals are not adequately trained in integrating nutrition assessment at the molecular and cellular levels with emerging research in nutrition and nutritional genomics. These advanced practice skills are essential for preventing and managing today’s chronic disorders.

@2014 The Institute for Functional Medicine